Top 5 Tacos in Cook County

4342 N Central Ave, Chicago, IL 60634, United States

“This place was great! I'm a huge fan of hole in the wall restaurants/Mom and Pop shops that are simple and delicious. This is definitely one of those places. The owner is super sweet and has quite the personality. I've been trying to find a solid authentic Mexican restaurant for ages. I feel like a lot of them are catered to American tastes or the vegetarian food isn't that good. But this one was great! The Mexican coffee was to die for and I despise coffee. The owner asked us to try it and boy was I glad I did. At least now I know I can get a real caffeine kick somewhere, finally! They are still trying to get more people in post COVID. Please go and support their small business! The food is fantastic! Their homemade green hot sauce was amazing too!”

2525 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, United States

“Fantastic place, great Flavours and super friendly owner. We let the owner decide on all our dishes and weren't disappointed. Great price quality ratio.”

1800 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

“Unfortunately I’m sensing a pattern with poor service after coming here more. The front of house in particular is severely lacking with uncommunicative and apathetic behavior. For example they went to sit us right in front of the door during a cold winter while 90% of the rest of the space was available. Upon request to sit somewhere where there won’t be a draft, barely any response was given while they awkwardly brought us to another table, but *would not* allow us to sit in a booth and couldn’t provide a reason as to why not. Also unfortunate since it was for my birthday. I’m not sure if the pay here is poor which results in this kind of service (pretty much across the board), training, or what the issue is, but I think it warrants some attention. Throughout a sitting it gets pretty grating and irritating. The brunch food remains pretty tasty, though I do think it could be refreshed a bit more often with new or updated items. The warm beverage situation seems a bit limited, as in there are no syrups for something like a vanilla latte, not even a sweetened latte (you do that yourself with the provided sugars), no chai tea. Would be great if they had these options to match the more robust menu. Interior is quite lovely. The interior is a bit upscale and glamorous with velvet booths, mid century globe lighting, wood furniture pieces, and lots of old vintage style quirky art on the walls.”

1026b Davis St A, Evanston, IL 60201, United States

“The tacos were pretty good. I had the carnitas. And the chips and salsa were excellent. But I really loved the pinto beans with bacon. The margaritas were also great. Be sure to save room for the warm butter cake. It’s delicious.”

365 S Roselle Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60193, United States

“First time, trying out Taco Maya. I didn’t realize it’s a chain with many locations in Illinois. I would give this location a 4.5. Place was clean. Plenty of tables to sit and eat. Sauce bar. Service was good, it did not take them long to get your food to you if you are dining in. Prices range from cheap to slightly expensive for a taco. I like to try the speciality ones, so if the price matches the quality then I’m okay with that. They give you free chips and salsa while waiting. Chips are very good, not overly salty. I ordered the signature taco, dorado taco, chicken tinga taco, elotes, rice, and horchata. Signature 5/5 - very flavorful. Everything pairs well. Dorado 5/5 - fish was moist and i love that Chipotle Mayo that goes with it. Chicken tinga 5/5 - generous amount of meat and it wasn’t dry. Rice 1/5 - i love Mexican rice but i would prefer it to be without the peas. Peas kind of ruined the taste for me. Elotes 5/5 - it has a little kick to it. Horchata 5/5 - one of the best ones I’ve had here. Good amount of cinnamon. Taco salad 5/5 was big and you get a large amount for the price.”

2829 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647, United States

“I think good, but not great sums up our experience here well. We arrived with no reservation on a Friday evening, and chose to sit in the bar area which had a great vibe. The drinks were good, but the food was lacking. They have a relatively unique menu for a Mexican restaurant so we expected unique flavors, but unfortunately most items we tried fell flat. For example, there was no kick or heat to the habanero crema to offset the sweetness of the tamal tots. My chicken verde taco was probably the highlight of my meal, but it was also hard to eat. I would probably return for their happy hour if I were already in the neighborhood, but wouldn’t be eager to return for dinner. Service was on the slow side, but I didn’t factor that into my review because it was very clear they were short staffed like many other restaurants right now. They were hustling to attend to every table, and remained very friendly!”

1669 E Oakton St, Des Plaines, IL 60018, United States

“SO good. Everything was delicious. I had the pork and cheese and then beans and cheese pupusa. The pickled cabbage is too good. And the fries were yummy. Very friendly service. Can't wait to come back.”

3147 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657, United States

“Is trying to eat at all the Mexican places in Chicago doable? I think it’s a hard thing to complete. So let me get into it! The food at Buena Vista Restaurant was surprisingly good! My friend and I got the nachos as I have to say it’s was great. The temperature and the freshness of the dish made you want to have another plate of it. I got the three taco dinner and I was happy that I got that since I normally get it at other places. The services was as expected as it is a small finally owned business so we had to be patient which isn’t a problem for me at all. The atmosphere was like you were back in time. It’s refreshing since not many places are like that. I like retro places and to me it felt like back in the day. Overall, I will say give BVR a try if you want authentic food with a charming wait staff.”

2013 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622, United States

“Taco Tuesday Happy Hour is epic! $2.95 tacos you can mix and match, and 50% off small margaritas. My favorites are the esquites, barbacoa and carnitas; but truly every taco we tried was great. We ordered almost one of everything. The service was also excellent.”

122 S Prospect Ave, Park Ridge, IL 60068, United States

“for my first experience I can say that everthing was ok, food, ambiance, serving. I like spicy food but was not that spicy as I think. Taco very good”

810 N Marshfield Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, United States

“Had yummy Authentic mexican tacos, seating inside is not inviting but def good for takeout. I will be back or order for takeout. To try Stelote, steak + elote … should be good”

1540 N Rand Rd, Palatine, IL 60074, United States

“Do not come to this establishment. First of all, it is not clear that there are two Mexican restaurants side-by-side. I was in between business appointments, and I was eating by myself. Usually, I would use the restroom prior to going to my table so that I don't have to leave my purse and coat unattended. I went into the restroom and the owner followed me into the restroom to tersely announce that it was not a public restroom. I informed her that I intended to eat in the restaurant. FYI, the restaurants are connected on the inside. It is obvious that one is a walk up window, and the other one is sit down. I went to sit down in a booth and place my order. The same woman/owner came to take my order but before she would take my order, she wanted to scold me on the difference between the two restaurants and that I should not have used the restroom that I used when I walked in the door. When I asked her to not talk to me in that tone of voice, she asked me to leave. I was happy to leave!”

6336 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60629, United States

“loved the carnitas and rice. everything is served nice, hot and fresh too . prices are so reasonable and I'll def be going back to try the birria. the salsa with the chips was also 5 starts I loved how chunky it was”

In the alley behind Frontera Grill, 443 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654, United States

“One of my favorite aspects of Bar Sótano is the service. Went in without doing much research and it went beyond my expectations. It is intimate, cozy, and even though it’s in a “basement” it did NOT feel claustrophobic. There were patrons celebrating a birthday, friends hanging out, couples being romantic, and some sitting at the bar just chatting. The food top-notch. Chef Jackie’s menu is excellent! Highly recommend the roasted bone marrow, oysters, paella, and of course either the flan or tres leches. Tequila and mezcal options are excellent. Try a flight of either on your first visit (or any visit). I lean more tequila and was happy Fortaleza is on the menu. Keep in mind that there is a mandatory 20% service charge regardless of party size. I think this is a great way to go and make sure staff isn’t “trying” for tips. Consequently making it a better experience for the patron and a better working environment for the staff. A win-win.”

34 W Schaumburg Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60194, United States

“Used to go here when it was El Meson. We went on a Thursday night - not too crowded. The indoor dining space is renovated with a long bar, big screen TV’s for sports and nice tables. Less seating than before but great not to be on top of the table next to you anymore. Outdoor patio wasn’t being used anymore but still a great space for warmer weather. Service was excellent. Margaritas were huge and tasty. Food was very good. My husband had enchiladas and I had the fajitas. Good size portions. Chips are good salsa is meh. We would go back.”

101 Grand Ave, Northlake, IL 60164, United States

“The food here is phenomenal!! Everything was delicious from the chicken to the beans to the salsa bar! Authentic, fresh and flavorful! Small, casual place to enjoy great food. Looking forward to returning whenever I'm in town!”

4142 W 167th St, Oak Forest, IL 60452, United States

“Not good. I really wanted a delicious taco. I ordered the fish taco and a burrito with fries. The taco tasted extra fishy. The burrito was soupy and lukewarm. The taco was hot. The french fries were hot. The waitress/cashier was not friendly or accommodating. I return several times to ask for condiments, napkins flatware and sauce for my tacos. I dined in, the atmosphere was clean. The cook helped me more than the actual waitress/cashier. I’ve dined here twice before. Each time hoping the next time would be better it was not. The menu board looks delicious flashes of different entrées They serve. That was not my experience. Lack luster, food, and taste. I will not return to this location.”

1221 W 47th St, Chicago, IL 60609, United States

“This looks like a mom and pop grocery store, but the food here is absolutely incredible & authentic. My burrito was packed with flavor, hot, and juicy. The horchata was on point too. So so yummy!! I would have given 5 stars, but I was quite confused on how to order at first, and the ladies up front were no help at all and looked bothered by my confusion. The guys at the butcher counter ended up helping me out, and they were so so kind to me! No dine in!!”

815 W 35th St, Chicago, IL 60609, United States

“Great little spot for authentic flavors and vibe. The giant sign out front makes finding this place easy. I was greeted right away and told to sit anywhere I liked, then upon my selection, I was given a basket of nachos and a couple salsas to go with. It was my first time there and the menu is packed with a lot of options, so it took me some time to order. But I was not rushed by the polite and friendly staff. I didn't eat much, just a set of fish tacos with chopped cilantro and diced onions, but they were very good. The salsa provided to me earlier was used on the tacos as well. I liked the bar and the red brick wall with arched windows. It made the space feel welcoming. It was also cool to see the chef in the order window checking in on the restaurant periodically, it signified to me at least, that he cared. I'll be back to try another dish soon!”

782 W Oakton St #C, Des Plaines, IL 60018, United States

“The green tamales where really good, I wish they had the chicken and mole tamales since it's a Oxacan tamales place. Otherwise, it's just a green leaf tamale.”